The harp was the national instrument of the Hebrews, and was well known throughout Asia. Moses assigns its invention to Jubal during the antediluvian period. (Genesis 4:21) Josephus records that the harp had ten strings, and that it was played on with the plectrum. Sometimes it was smaller having only eight strings, and was usually played with the fingers.

ATS Bible Dictionary

Harp

Hebrew KINNOR, the most ancient and common stringed instrument of the Jews, more properly translated lyre. It was light and portable, and was used on joyful occasions, whether sacred or not. It was invented by Jubal, Genesis 4:21 31:27 1 Chronicles 16:5 25:1-5 Psalm 81:2. David was a proficient in its use, 1 Samuel 16:16,23 18:10. The instrument most nearly resembling our harp was the Hebrew NEBEL, translated, psaltery in the Old Testament, Psalm 57:8 81:2:92:3:108:2. It had a general triangular shape, and seven to twelve strings, Psalm 33:2 144:9. It was played with the hand or with a short iron rod or plectrum according to its size. The Jews had other stringed instruments, like the guitar and lute, but little can be accurately determined respecting their form, etc. See MUSIC.

In Solomon's time harps were made of almug-trees (1 Kings 10:11, 12). In 1 Chronicles 15:21 mention is made of "harps on the Sheminith;" Revised Version, "harps set to the Sheminith;" better perhaps "harps of eight strings." The soothing effect of the music of the harp is referred to 1 Samuel 16:16, 23; 18:10; 19:9. The church in heaven is represented as celebrating the triumphs of the Redeemer "harping with their harps" (Revelation 14:2).

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (n.) A musical instrument consisting of a triangular frame furnished with strings and sometimes with pedals, held upright, and played with the fingers.

2. (n.) A constellation; Lyra, or the Lyre.

3. (n.) A grain sieve.

4. (n.) To play on the harp.

5. (n.) To dwell on or recur to a subject tediously or monotonously in speaking or in writing; to refer to something repeatedly or continually; -- usually with on or upon.

6. (v. t.) To play on, as a harp; to play (a tune) on the harp; to develop or give expression to by skill and art; to sound forth as from a harp; to hit upon.

2789. kitharizo -- to play on the lyre... to play on the lyre. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: kitharizo Phonetic Spelling: (kith-ar-id'-zo) Short Definition: I play on the harp Definition: intrans ...//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2789.htm - 6k

A Harp of Ten Strings... A Harp of Ten Strings. A Sermon (No.2219). Intended for Reading on Lord's-Day, August 30th, 1891,. Delivered by. CH SPURGEON,. At the .../.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 37 1891/a harp of ten strings.htm

Playing on the Harp Before Saul.... PLAYING ON THE HARP BEFORE SAUL. ... His servants advised him to get a man that could play skilfully upon the harp, so that music might drive away his misery. .../.../anonymous/mother stories from the old testament/playing on the harp before.htm

My Harp Upon the Willows, Grave,... ASPIRATIONS My harp upon the willows, grave,. tr., John Brownlie 8,8,8,8. I. Myharp upon the willows, grave,. In weeping days is sadly hung,. .../.../brownlie/hymns from the morningland/my harp upon the willows.htm

Psalm XCII.... 5. "Upon a psaltery of ten strings, with a song, and upon the harp" (ver.3). Ye have not heard of the psaltery of ten strings for the first time: it signifies .../.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm xcii.htm

On Saturday, or at Compline.... it seemed to him in his sleep, as if he were in a chamber; and as if, while he was sitting there, a very fair youth entered with a ravishing harp, and with him .../.../suso/a little book of eternal wisdom/on saturday or at compline.htm

The Test by Fire... Then the herald cried aloud, "To you it is commanded, O peoples, nations: 'The moment you hear the sound of the trumpet, flute, lute, harp, bagpipe, and all ...//christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/the test by fire.htm

Sanctification is a Mystery.... It is like a harp with broken strings. The harp was made to produce music by the harmonious vibration of the strings. But the production .../.../kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/ii sanctification is a mystery.htm

Psalm CL.... "Praise Him in the psaltery and harp." The psaltery praiseth God from things above, the harp praiseth God from things below; I mean, from things in heaven, and .../...//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm cl.htm

Psalm XLIII.... "Yea, upon the harp will I praise Thee, O God my God." What is the meaning of "praising on the harp," and praising on the psaltery? .../.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm xliii.htm

Flute (16 Occurrences)... or harps, for instance--when yielding a sound, if they make no distinction in the notes, how shall the tune which is played on the flute or the harp be known? .../f/flute.htm - 13k

Pipe (13 Occurrences)... 1 Corinthians 14:7 Even things without life, giving a voice, whether pipe or harp, if they didn't give a distinction in the sounds, how would it be known what .../p/pipe.htm - 13k

Tambourine (8 Occurrences)... did you flee secretly, and deceive me, and didn't tell me, that I might have sent you away with mirth and with songs, with tambourine and with harp; (WEB RSV .../t/tambourine.htm - 9k

Tambour (7 Occurrences)... did you flee secretly, and deceive me, and didn't tell me, that I might have sent you away with mirth and with songs, with tambourine and with harp; (Root in .../t/tambour.htm - 9k

Timbrel (7 Occurrences)... did you flee secretly, and deceive me, and didn't tell me, that I might have sent you away with mirth and with songs, with tambourine and with harp; (See NAS). .../t/timbrel.htm - 9k

Bible Concordance

Harp (36 Occurrences)

1 Corinthians 14:7 Even things without life, giving a voice, whether pipe or harp, if they didn't give a distinction in the sounds, how would it be known what is piped or harped?(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Revelation 5:8 Now when he had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Revelation 18:22 The voice of harpists, minstrels, flute players, and trumpeters will be heard no more at all in you. No craftsman, of whatever craft, will be found any more at all in you. The sound of a mill will be heard no more at all in you.(Root in WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 4:21 His brother's name was Jubal, who was the father of all who handle the harp and pipe.(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NIV)

Genesis 31:27 Why did you flee secretly, and deceive me, and didn't tell me, that I might have sent you away with mirth and with songs, with tambourine and with harp;(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NIV)

1 Samuel 10:5 "After that you shall come to the hill of God, where is the garrison of the Philistines: and it shall happen, when you have come there to the city, that you shall meet a band of prophets coming down from the high place with a psaltery, and a tambourine, and a pipe, and a harp, before them; and they will be prophesying:(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Samuel 16:16 Let our lord now command your servants who are before you, to seek out a man who is a skillful player on the harp. It shall happen, when the evil spirit from God is on you, that he shall play with his hand, and you shall be well."(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

1 Samuel 16:18 Then one of the young men answered, and said, "Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a mighty man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a comely person; and Yahweh is with him."(See NIV)

1 Samuel 16:23 It happened, when the evil spirit from God was on Saul, that David took the harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

1 Samuel 18:10 It happened on the next day, that an evil spirit from God came mightily on Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house. David played with his hand, as he did day by day. Saul had his spear in his hand;(See NAS NIV)

1 Samuel 19:9 An evil spirit from Yahweh was on Saul, as he sat in his house with his spear in his hand; and David was playing with his hand.(See NAS NIV)

1 Chronicles 25:3 Of Jeduthun; the sons of Jeduthun: Gedaliah, and Zeri, and Jeshaiah, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six, under the hands of their father Jeduthun with the harp, who prophesied in giving thanks and praising Yahweh.(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Job 21:12 They sing to the tambourine and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the pipe.(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Psalms 149:3 Let them praise his name in the dance! Let them sing praises to him with tambourine and harp! (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NIV)

Psalms 150:3 Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet! Praise him with harp and lyre! (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Isaiah 5:12 The harp, lyre, tambourine, and flute, with wine, are at their feasts; but they don't respect the work of Yahweh, neither have they considered the operation of his hands.(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Isaiah 23:16 Take a harp; go about the city, you prostitute that has been forgotten. Make sweet melody. Sing many songs, that you may be remembered.(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Isaiah 24:8 The mirth of tambourines ceases. The sound of those who rejoice ends. The joy of the harp ceases. (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Daniel 3:5 that whenever you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe, and all kinds of music, you fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king has set up;(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE WBS YLT RSV NIV)

Daniel 3:7 Therefore at that time, when all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe, and all kinds of music, all the peoples, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshiped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE WBS YLT RSV NIV)

Daniel 3:10 You, O king, have made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe, and all kinds of music, shall fall down and worship the golden image;(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE WBS YLT RSV NIV)

Daniel 3:15 Now if you are ready whenever you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe, and all kinds of music to fall down and worship the image which I have made, well : but if you don't worship, you shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that god that shall deliver you out of my hands?(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE WBS YLT RSV NIV)

Amos 6:5 who strum on the strings of a harp; who invent for themselves instruments of music, like David;(WEB NAS RSV NIV)